It Always Comes Down to One

One. The number of candidates who are the perfect fit for both the job and the organization.

Many. The number of categories of security and risk management positions in which security professionals work. Within these silos, there are variations that make the roles unique to the hiring organization. Each of those jobs then requires matching the one perfect candidate for the position.

This is what SMR strives for in every search: distill down to the single security professional who is an ideal match for both the job and the company.

We recently completed a project for a family office in the San Francisco Bay area that took this concept of one to the next level: they would entertain having only one candidate presented due to high-pressure schedules in their organization.

Initially the role came to us as a requirement for an executive protection professional. SMR worked with our client’s team to analyze their requirements and refine the job description. It turned out what they were really looking for was something completely different. A physical security manager who had a unique understanding of the technology and systems employed in the protection of high asset individuals. Not an EP role in the classic sense, but one that specialized in a narrow aspect of the overall protection program.

The challenges to success for this project were many and varied. The scope of protection included the principal, their family members, and related businesses. Family offices in general rarely have an option for a remote or hybrid model so the person had to be onsite at a time in the pandemic where that was super challenging. The main centers of activity were in a congested, high cost of living area of the US, many of which might not be convenient to where a local candidate would reside.

SMR identified a small group of candidates we felt would be a good match for the position. Interviews were extremely in-depth as we worked to pinpoint the single candidate we would submit.

The person we chose to send knew the west coast very well. They loved the Bay Area and were eager to relocate there. They had extensive experience in design and project management across different environments both in the US and internationally. We also felt they had the personality and characteristics to be a great fit for what was going to be a very personal decision for our client.

Our instincts were clearly on target. After video interviews were complete, our candidate was invited out to meet everyone. It was a match, and the start date was accelerated to get them on board as quickly as possible. The one candidate we sent was the one perfect fit.

Are you looking for that one perfect security leader to join your team? Contact us to hear more of our success stories and learn how we can help. Sign up to receive job announcements for our different regions and join our security talent community to be considered for our current recruitments.